Is it possible to not make enough milk?Help!

[cybermum]

I am BF Joshua and he is 17 days old now.He weighed 6lbs 12oz born,dropped to 6,9 the first week as expected then went back up to now 7lbs 4ozs.

I know weight isn't the be all and everything and my MW said he could be going through growth spurt as they do at 7 days,14,20 and 30 days.

But he is hungry ALL the time,I can feed for 2+hours and he still wants more.
Sometimes its been because of a bad latch but we righted that,I hear him drinking in the milk so fast and not pinched in cheeks or anything.

But he'll fall asleep at boob and then when I go to put him down he is awake again within 20 mins looking for more.

MW said it could be for comfort he is doing it but I can't take not sleeping anymore.
I have been up since 3.30am and just want to bawl my eyes out.
My 3 year old ,bless,is running all over the place and I am exhausted looking at him.

I am getting paranoid that I am not making enough milk,he will empty one breast and then we switch to other side.
He has wet nappies all day and plenty of poos but can't help wondering if Iam making enough for him?

Hubby asks me why I am putting myself through it and offers to run to Boots all the time but I really want to get BF right this time.
Got mastitis last two times and milk dried up

Sorry for rambling,just so so tired and paranoid.
Not even got on BnB since Joshua was born ,feeding 24/7!

 

[Mervs Mum]

It's very unlikely that you are not producing enough. BF babies need to feed little and often. What you are describing sounds totally normal to me at your stage. He's still very young and learning his technique. In time he will learn how to get your milk out quicker but give him chance. Generally comfort sucking feels different - it's lighter and almost quivery. The more you put him to the breast the more your boobs will get the signals to up the production. It takes 10 mins for a baby of his age to work out if they are still hungry so it's not unusual for them o come off and then want to go back on quickly after. If he does that return to the same breast so he gets the richer hind milk - this should start to fill him for longer.

Hang in there honey - it would be a shame to throw the towel in now as you are probably going to start to see little improvements soon. But do remember he's only 2 and a bit weeks old - give yourselves both chance to learn.

 

[mommyof3co]

I agree with MM, it does sound really normal, and it will get better. You could try, if you are ok with it, giving him a pacifier just to see if it is for comfort, he might just want to suck alot, Hayden was like that and giving him the pacifier really helped, having his 2 older brothers it was next to impossible for him to comfort nurse all the time so when it was just for comfort we gave him his paci and usually I'd wear him in his carrier too so he was by me and he would be great

 

[Logiebear]

dito everything Mervs mum said hun. You are right at the start of a journet hun and you have gotten off to a cracking start. I know it's hard to hear when you are exhausted and your other kids need you. I have 3 other kids aged 11, 3 and 2 so I know how you feel. Yes it is hard but then it wouldn't be so rewarding if it were easy would it. Keep going hun

 

[cybermum]

Thanks for letting me ramble and vent
Think I am just having a rough day.
I know its going to be a learning journey for both of us and really am so chuffed we have made it this far together,don't want to stop now.

He doesn't like pacifiers but does like to suck my finger LOL